Dragging equipment detector



Feb. 3, 1948. E. K. Pos'r DRAGGING EQUIPMENT DETECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed-*June l5, 1944 IE. En

Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT AO F FICE DRAGGING fii!2UlI|?l\II*INl DETECTOR Ernestfl Post, Collingswood, N..J.

Application 31111615, 1944, Serial No. 540,367

18 Claims. (Cl. 246-469) -Myginvention relates .to a ldetector arm and ;a mount vtherefor adapted to be included within sa signalling circuit for the Vdetection y-oi dragging brake beams, etc., hanging lbenea'th .a `train.

In U. S. Patent No. .-2,063L336 to 'Welles M. Post. a protective rsystem forrailiiirays fis illustrated :in which detector elements appear. 'The present invention is directed to novel and -elective idetector arms and mounts therefor whiohnarecapable of use for the VAsaine purpose fas those shown inthe said patent.

Gne purpose of Vthefinventionfistofreduce `vibration in the detector.

A further purpose is to support detector l'arms fromapproximatelythefmiddlepartsofthearms.

A further 'purpose is te `stien vthe lengaging face of a ldetector arm.

A further -purpose is vto rmount a-detector arm upon electrical conductors yclamped ibetween 'the bracketand the arm.

A furtherjpurpose is -to Ymount -a detector arm by'grooved legs from agrooved bracketusingfthe electric connecting wires for the circuit -to'form the actual vengaging mechanical as well as electrical contact :between the brackets andthe arm.

A further :purpose is to adapt a 'detector 1arm to use with vstandardties as distinguished Y:from the current Vpractice which Yrequires special lengths of tie.

A further purpose Ais to cast detector yarms in channel form and to rstiflen the arms 'by webs extending across the channels,

VIliave preferred Lto 'illustrate my invention by one yform only,.selecting a form-.which`is. practical, efficient, and inexpensive but which has been selected primarily vbecause it Yillustrates .the Yinvention to excellent advantage.

Figure 1 is a, top plan view showing my inventionapplied in standard railway practice.

Figure 2 is va .transverse :section of :Figure 1 upon line -2-2 4showing-the featuresofthefinvention in front elevation.

Figure 3 is =a vrigl'itericl elevation y,or struc ture seen :in Fgure 1v, kshowing the :railinfside elevation.

.Figure 4 is a fragmentary: enlarged frontelevation.

Figure 5 is a sectiontakenmpon of Figure 4.

Figure 16 is :a section upon 4 line `Suzi, ibeing largely a top plan Vview ofwthe clamps :by which the arm is mounted.

Figure 7 is a perspective Memor sa. `irunnfxizing bracket seen in the zcther egure.

In the drawings similar numerals indicate .like parts.

My .invention is .adapted toibe mounted upon standard `,equipment comprising standard .length ties l I, rails 1.2, of :diierent heights. nfor .which the mountis adjustable, .and -tie plates --I 3.

The :detector arms 'I4 compriseuupper rengaging bars :I5 having :bends .l'l, :H5 connecting Awith zre .versed lreturn.sections 1i, ',l yand terminating inlegs 1B. `The 'letectorarms aremonnted, one outside rof each rail andfpreferahl-y threebetween the rails. With the normal .length `of arm :the entire space between the-.rails is protected adequately zby three arms.

Withzpresentzeqnipment, theI` centerofxtheltrack has .relatively :received less rproteetion zthan the parts .adjacent `the 'inside :of A'the rails, with the result fthat :it has been customary ito use :a .wedge shaped ramp 2l) to .guide dragging equipment toward the zrails. VThe rampmasfaflow apex 2l toward .the .traffic and ,progressively `higher Qdiverginglsides 22. ix'iuclifiaJ ramplmay be used'with my present construction, .and is :quite .desirable if the fmiddle detector :arm be1not used, fbut there is less reason for it when a middle arm v .is fused than there had been iin :the prior constructions The larms shown are-'connected 'in 4series and within the signalling circuit between vconduit inlets andioutlets23,.2l byfconductors 125, 25,;21, 28,129 and 30 so=thatthe signallingourrentpasses from fthe `conductor 'in y'one conduit thronglri fthe successive conductors and intervening Varms to the Aconductor inthe other conduit.

In order to avoid large, solid :massescf'metal which would be particularly obiectionablewhen broken lbecausei theyffelifunder :the wheels they might cause derailments, lsubstantially the entire lengthof rthe-detector isof -channeledfoi-m. 'The forward Lbar -isfchanneled at 3l downwardly, `and ln the return sections the apen-ing lof the channel f3! Vis `Vdirected zupwardly. The `'channels in @the legs open atl 312 rearwardly. '-It `isvdesiraJtle fte stiffer; `these v channels Vagaimit stresses parallel 'to the direction of motion of atra'c. l-riforder to :secureA additional` stilenng and-additional resistance to .stresses whether they be `compressive or tensile, :the sides vof `the channel are therefore connected-at intervals by webs 32. Y

Thearms `'are .carried by brackets 33 having lupright iaces 314 .engaging rthe sides of Vthe'ties and generally horizontal ange Yfaces 35i-resting onstlietopfscftlie ties. '.Thefbrackets-fareheld to thezties 'by bolts 36, washers and nutsy 31.

The upright faces 3| of the brackets away-'from theftiesrare .transversely grooved'at $8 to 4v:receive two lengths of wire 39, 40, and the interior rear faces of the legs or standards are correspondingly transversely grooved at 4| to a spacing corresponding with the spacing of the grooves of the brackets, but over a much larger upright area, whereby the legs can be adjusted to variant heights and at each of the variations in height, two of the grooves of the brackets will correspond in position with thetwo grooves in the brackets.

Eachof the grooves in the brackets and legs or standards is a trifle less in depth than half the thickness of the wire. at intermediate positions, so that additional adjustment positions are available, the intermediate positions being spaced, one from .the next by the same spacing as that between` bracket Ihe legs are groovedA` 1i ,tervalsj transversely with the bottoms of the' Clamps 42 span the standards and are tightened` to clamp the legs or standards and brackets together about the wires by suitable bolts 43 and nuts 44. f

The wires 39 and l0 may be wholly separate wires against which the legs are clamped sothat they physically space the legs from the brackets and cooperate in the mechanical positioning of the legs or, with the same mechanical effect, they may represent a loop as shown. In either case one ofthem will be a conductor wire in the series connection of the several arm units across from one side of the track to the other and this wire therefore will engage thewalls ofthe leg groove and thus afford electrical contact with its leg. 1

If the loop form be used thereY is the additional electrical contact with the leg'represented bythe engagement of the walls of the other leg groove with the terminal end'of the loop. There is, therefore, an advantage in the use of the loop everywhere except adjacent to the conduits. Because of a common practiceV of terminating the conduit connection in two wires which do not form a loop, two separate wires will most conveniently be used adjacent theconduits.

' As thus described, the units represented by the several arms and their supporting legs maybe placed-at any points along the lengths of the ties Where the brackets can be placed and where there is no interference of one arm with the position of another. Y j

The connecting wires ordinarily are stranded wires which may be sweated so as to give more solid conductor terminals for clamping purposes than would bethe case if the relatively more loose independent stranded wires be used without such sweating. Y

It will be evident that the several parts of the arm unit are greatly stiifened by the Vtransverse webbing and that the Webs can be placed at relatively long spacing as in the engaging bars or at short spacing as in the legs, as may bedesired. It will be evident that the adjustment of the height of the engaging Vbars may be effected quickly throughout a wide range and withoutthe useoi other tools than the wrench by which the clamping bolts are tightened. i

It Vwillbe evident that the shortened distance between the supports and the bends in the' arms, as compared with the longer distance in the structure of the Post patent above, greatly reduces the objectional eiects of such vibration is inevitable in view of the connection of the arms with the tie. V f Y Having Ythus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: y 1. Ina detector-for draggingrailway equipment, a frangible front engagement bar, converging supporting bars connected t0 the ends of the engagement bar, legs for the supporting bars, a pair of electric wires extending transversely of the legs, brackets for supporting the wires and legs, and clampingY means forforcing connected at the .ends of the front bar and channeled upwardly and legs for the supporting bars,

vchanneled atright angles to the channeling of the other bars and webs across the channels of the bars and legs, the legs being grooved at ingrooves toward the backs of the channels,

3.In' avdetectorY for dragging equipment, a bracket having groovesy in an upright face, an engaging arm, a leg supporting the armvhaving grooves in one face corresponding in generalposition with the grooves in the bracket, the'bracket l and arm as a unit-being frangible, wires Afitting partly into each ofthe grooves, a L,clampnand means for tighteningY the ,clarnp,.pressingv the leg toward the bracketV and clamping the. wires between the two. i V1 4. InA a detector forv dragging equipment, a

ening the clamp, pressing the leg toward the bracket and clamping thewiresbetween the two,

one of the wires connecting with corresponding bracket and leg members of another arm.V Y,

5. A plurality of arms spaced across a track, pairs of legs actingkas supportsior the arms and with which the arms jare electrically in seriesthe arm andleg unitsvbeing frangible, electric conductors joining adjacent legsV ofadjoining arms, Y

so that the arms are in series','brackets supporting the several legs, eachv leg'and the corresponding supporting bracket being grooved to Vadmit an electrical conductor andA clampingL means rfor tightening each leg and'its bracket against'opposite sides of one of theY conductors. 1, l

6.' A detector for railway use havingV at the Vupper end an. engagementfbar reversely turnedzat its ends,each turned towardslthe other, leg-sby which the bar is inounted, 'thelength ofthe detector and legs being chann'eledthe arm and leg units being frangible, and'websacross from side to side of the channel at intervals more frequent in the legs than in the'arm: portions of the detector. a Y Y '7. A detector arm for protectionA against dragging equipment comprising alpair of channeled legs having webs across fromvside to side of the channel and grooved at the back of the legs at regular intervals,rdivergingarm Portions connecting with the tops of the legs andreversely turned and united to form an upper contact "arm,"the diverging portions and the connecting member having webs across from side to side, and the arm and leg units being frangible.

8. A detector arm for protection again'stdragging equipmentcomprising a pair of channeled legs having webs across from side to side of the channel and grooved at the back' of the legs at regular intervals, diverging arm portions connecting with the tops of the legnsa'ndV reversely turned and united to form an upper contact arm, the diverging portions and the contact arm having webs across from side to side in combination with a bracket grooved on the facing side and wires resting inv two grooves and a clamp and bolts forcing the legs against the wires and the wires against; the brackets, the wires and bolts forming the only connection between the legs and the bracket, and the arm andleg units being frangible.

9. In a detector for dragging equipment, an engaging bar transversely turned and extending from both sides toward the middle, legs for the bar having transverse grooves uniformly spaced across the lower end, the bar and leg unit being frangible, a bracket having grooves across its upper end, electric wires filling the two grooves in the brackets and in the legs and spacing the bodies of the legs from the bodies of the brackets, means for fastening the brackets to ties, clamps engaging the opposite sides of the legs from the grooves and bolts holding the clamps to the brackets and tightening the legs against the wires.

10. In a detector for dragging equipment, legs channelled and having stifening webs across their channels, grooved transversely back of their channels at uniform intervals, diverging upwardly channelled sections at the upper ends of the legs and a transverse, downwardly channelled bar connecting with the diverging sections and having webs across the channels, the bar and leg units being frangible, brackets adapted to support the legs, grooved transversely at spaced points, wires of which one is electrically conducting, entering corresponding grooves in the legs and in the brackets, clamps spanning the legs, bolts holding the clamps and brackets together, nuts for the bolts adapted to tighten the clamps against the fronts of the legs and to tighten the grooved portions of the legs against the wires and the wires against the brackets, and means for holding the brackets.

11. In a detector for dragging equipment, a transverse channelled upper engagement bar, oppositely directed channelled lower bars connected with the upper bar and extending towards each other, downwardly turned channelled legs having at intervals across the channels stiffening webs and the legs being grooved at intervals, the bar and leg units being frangible, transversely grooved brackets for supporting the detector bar, wires, of which one is an electrical conductor, lying between the grooves of the legs and the grooves within the brackets, the wires spacing the bodies of the legs respectively from the bodies of the brackets, clamps for the legs, and bolts passing through the clamps and tightening the legs, wires and brackets, whereby the detector is mounted upon transverse sections of the wire.

12. In a detector for dragging equipment upon a railway track, a tie, a plurality of brackets mounted at intervals along the length of the tie, between the rails and also outside of the rails, each bracket being grooved upon an upright face at different heights along said face of the bracket, a plurality of detector armsl one arm to each two brackets, legs connecting opposite ends of each arm with the two brackets for that arm, the legs being grooved at a spacing corresponding with the spacing of the grooves in the brackets and the arm and leg units being frangible and electrical conductors joining one leg of one bracket with the other leg of another bracket, whereby the respective arms are electrically connected in series, the ends of the conductors tting each,

partly within the groove of one bracket. and partly within the groove. of one leg', clamps, and means io-rv tightening the` clampsI topress the legs against. the wires and the wires against the brackets.

` whereby electrical connection between the wires,

and the arms` is established and' the wires coop.- erate in mechanically supporting thel legs.

13. A plurality of frangible arr-ns spaced across: a track, pairs of terminals as supports for the arms and with the arms are electrically in series, electrical conductors joining adjacent arms by joining adjacent legs of diierent arms through the terminals to bring the arms into series, brackets supporting the several terminals and clamping means between the brackets and terminals engaging the electrical conductors to complete the circuit.

14. A detector for railway use, comprising electrically conducting frangible bars extending transversely with respect to the rails, bar terminals having parallel spaced grooves, a plurality of electrically conducting wires fitting the grooves of the terminals and supplying the bars with electric currentl through the contours of the grooves, mechanical supports for the terminals having grooves spaced in correspondence with those of the terminals, tting the opposite sides of the electrically conducting wires from the sides which engage the terminals, and means for forcing the terminals and the mechanical supports toward the wires to grip the wires and cause good contact between the wires and the walls of the terminal grooves.

15. A frangible bar intended to form part of an electric circuit to protect against dragging equipment, having terminals which contain parallel grooves, mechanical supports therefor having parallel grooves, a plurality of electric conductors adapted to supply electric current to and from the frangible bar and clamping means forcing the supports and terminals toward each other to grip the electric conductors on opposite sides of the wires and at the same time through the wires mechanically to support the frangible bar.

16. An arm for protection of a track against dragging equipment, a pair of legs supporting the arm, the assemblage of the arm with the legs being frangible, brackets supporting the legs, electrical conductors connected with the legs and clamping means for holding the legs and the brackets in engagement against the conductors whereby electrical connection to the legs and mechanical support between the brackets and the legs are secured by reason of the clamping action.

17. A plurality of frangible arms and legs therefor adapted to cover the space between rails in a railway track and including a transverse arm at the center of the track, a plurality of brackets therefor, two for each arm, the arm and leg equipment being frangible, and the brackets being adapted to be clamped toward the legs, electrical conductors joining the brackets and the legs and clamping means holding the brackets and supports against the electrical means on opposite sides thereof.

18. In a detector for dragging equipment upon a railway. track, a tie, a plurality of brackets mounted at intervals along the length of the tie, between the rails and also outside of the rails, each bracket being grooved upon an upright face at different distances along said face of the bracket, a plurality of frangible detector arms, one arm to each two brackets, grooved connections between the ends of the arms and the brackets and electrical conductors fitting, each ERNEST K. POST.

Y 8 i Y REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe iile of this patent:

5- l Y UNITEDk STATES PATENTS Y Number YName` n Date Y i2,007,800 `,Graf i July 9, 1935Y 2,063,336 Post Dec, s, 193eA Post Oct. 12, 1937 

